CBA on today

CEBU, Philippines - The inaugural season of the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Basketball Association (CBA) Tournament will kick off this afternoon at the Cebu Coliseum.

A collaboration of the Cebu City Sports Commision (CCSC) and the M. Lhuillier Group of Companies, the CBA is the richest commercial cage event in recent memory with P400,000 in cash prize at stake for the top performing squads.

In the season-opener, the Mandaue Landmasters will clash with the Ave Maria Sanctuary Park at 4 pm, while Hotel Fortuna battles the Asian College of Technology (ACT) Cyber Knights in the attraction at 6: 30 pm.

In between the games, a grand kick-off bash will take place to be graced by Cebu City Mayor Michael L. Rama, sports commission chairman Edward Hayco, and league forerunner Raul "Yayoy" D. Alcoseba.

The other highlights of the affair are the selection of Miss CBA and production numbers from the ACT Dance Troupe and members of Dancesport-Team Cebu City.

Completing the list of title contenders are the Salazar College of Science and Institute of Technology (SCSIT) and the Talisay City selection.

They will play a single round robin format, with the top two earning automatic slots to the next round. The No.3 and No.4 qualifiers, on the other hand, will enjoy twice-to-beat incentives over the lower-ranked teams in the playoff phase.

The remaining four will then figure in another single round robin, with the top two slugging it out for the championship in a best-of-three affair.

The champion will take home P200,000, while the runner-up will pocket P100,000. The third and fourth placers will receive P60,000 and P40,000, respectively. (FREEMAN)